A roundup of today’s big stories in hyperlocal publishing, marketing, commerce, and technology…

Brands More Skeptical of Facebook than SMBs in Wake of Controversies (Street Fight)
Although most multi-location brands say they’re not changing how they use Facebook for marketing, well over one fourth of the ones that use it are re-examining or decreasing their use of it due to recent scandals, according to Street Fight’s latest survey of enterprise local marketers. Digiday: Brands get caught in the fray as Facebook tries to control political ad controversy

Acxiom Marketing Solutions Group Sold to IPG; Future of Its SMB Listings Unclear (Local Onliner)
Acxiom, one of the “big four” providers of SMB listings, along with InfoGroup, Localeze, and Factual, is selling that SMB listings business along with the broader parent, Acxiom Marketing Services, to IPG, the ad agency/adtech giant. AdExchanger: IPG Acquires Acxiom Marketing Solutions

Search to Drive Mobile, Data Says (MediaPost)
Search remains the strongest media for mobile advertising, but social will take the lead beginning in 2019, according to data released Monday. The two channels will account for 81% of the incremental mobile ad dollars spent between 2017 and 2022.

Kroger’s Efforts to Connect Online & Offline Experiences Set Standard for Supermarkets (Street Fight)
In order to find out more about how the ambitious digital efforts of America’s largest supermarket chain are boosting Kroger’s bottom line, helping the company exceed analyst expectations with a $2 billion profit on revenue of $37.5 billion, we spoke to Ed Kennedy, senior director of commerce at the global software firm Episerver.

Ad Buyers Are Cooling on Oath (Business Insider)
Ad executives are starting to privately express doubts about Oath and CEO Tim Armstrong’s ability to deliver on his vision for the Verizon-owned digital hodgepodge.

New Media Company Quartz Sold for Up to $110 Million (TechCrunch)
Quartz, the business and tech news organization owned by Atlantic Media, is moving to a new home after publicly listed Japanese business Uzabase acquired it in a deal worth up to $110 million.

Self-Driving Cars Are Headed Toward an AI Roadblock (Verge)
The dream of a fully autonomous car may be further than we realize. There’s growing concern among AI experts that it may be years, if not decades, before self-driving systems can reliably avoid accidents.

Joe Zappa is the Managing Editor of Street Fight. He joined Street Fight as a contributing writer in 2015, has compiled the daily newsletter since 2016, and has spearheaded the newsroom's editorial operations since 2018. Follow him on Twitter @joe_zappa, and shoot him an email at jzappa@streetfightmag.com.